Register-clamp.



No. 819,827. PATBNTED MAY 8, 1906.

T. WENSEL. REGISTER CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED J`ULY20.1903,

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STATES Y THEGDOR WENSEL, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

REGISTER-CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

" Eatentea May 8, 1906.

Application filed .Tilly 20,1903. Serial No. 166,247.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODOR WENsEL, of St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Register-Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in clamps designed for use in color-printing for holding the plates and permitting them to be accurately adjusted, so that the impressions will exactly register with impressions made by other plates.

The invention consists generally in a clamp consisting of a blocli having a series of register-marks upon its upper surface, a clamping-jaw arranged to slide upon said block and over said marks, and means for moving said jaw.

The invention consists, further, in the constructions and combinations hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompaning drawings, forming part ofthis specification, Figure 1 is a plan view showing a number of my clamps in use holding a plate. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line y y of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a section on line :t :u of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan showing a modified construction. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the clamp shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail section on line z z of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section showing a= modification of the construction shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section show- 'ing another modification.

In the drawings, 2 re resents a plate which is to be adjustably c amped in' a suitable chase 3. I provide a series of blocks 5 and the clainping-blocks 7. The blocks 5 and the clam ing-blocks 7 make a complete baseA for the p ate 2, and these blocks are locked in position in the chase by means of suitable printers furniture, suci as wedge-shaped wooden strips 9 and qiioins 11. The clainping-blocks 7 are each provided with a central longitudinal groove 13, and the side walls of this groove are preferably provided near the top of the block with the horizontal ways 15, and these side walls are also provided with the inclined ways 17. A clam in ho k or jaw 19 is arranged with its en s adapted to travel in the way 15, and a nut 21, provided with projecting rabbeted ends, is arranged within the oove in the block 7 with its ends engagin t e Ways 17. The block 21 has a threade hole extending througlrit, and a screw 23 passes through the clamping-jaw 19 and through the threaded hole in t ie block 21. The up er portion or flat surface of the jaw 19 is divi ed into a suitable scale by a-series of marks 25, and the head of the screw ispreferably provided with the usual slot, so that by turning this screw the slot may be made to register with any one of the marks on the siii'- face of the law 19. The upper surface of the block 7 is afso divided by a series of marks 27, and these marks are preferably a distance apart equal to one pica. As there are twelve points in a pica and as the scale upon the clampingjaw 19 represents eight points, it follows `that a complete revolution of the screw will move the clainping-jaw forward or back eight points, or eiglit-twelfths of a pica. By turning the screw 23 both the clampingjaw 19 and the block 21 will be moved in their respective ways, and by this means the clamping-jawmaybe adjusted anydesired distance along the top surface of the block 7.

I prefer to provide the block 19 with a slightly-inclined bottom surface which does not come in direct contact with the bottom wall of the wav 15. Then when the screw is tightened the lip or edge of the aw will bear down upon the edge of tlierplate, thereby bringing the plate firmly down upon the blocks. By using a series ofthese clamps, as shown in Fig. 1, the plate 2 may be quickly and accurately adjusted in any direction. As the ways 15 and 17 extend the full length of the block 7, the clamping-jaw may be adjusted the full length of said block. As the nut- 21 is arranged in the inclined wa 17, by turning the screw 23 both the bloc 19 and the nut 21 may be simultaneously moved in either direction. With this device no tool is needed for moving theclainping-jaw 19; but said jaw is moved simply' by turning the screw 23, and-the exact amount that said jaw will be moved may be determined by the scale or dividing-lines upon the top surface of said jaw.

In Figs. 4, 5, and 6 I have shown the block 7 with the horizontal ways 15 omitted. In

this instance the jaw 19 slides upon the topl of the block 7. The screw 23 engages the block 21, as in the other instance. T io way 17 extends the full length of the block 7, so

IDO

that the-jaw may be adjusted the full length IIO ing block 21 without Ajustment to any point in .to the desired position the screw is tightened and the block and the jaw 21 are rmly secured in the position to which they have been i adjusted. This construction is not as advantageous as that shown in Fig. 1, in which the jaw and the block are 4moved by turning the screw. In all of the constructions I prefer-to provide'the top of the block 7 with the division-marks and the clampingbloc'k with the scale by means of which the distance which the jaw will be moved may be predetermined. The main advantages of this construction are that the clamping-jaw of each block can be adjusted the full length of the block and may be moved any desired distance and the number of points which the jaw is to be moved may be accurately determined.

By having the clamping-j aw capable of adthe'length of the block I am enabled to clamp a plate of any desired size. For instance, where it is desired to clamp a very small plate the blocks 7 may be placed with their inner ends abutting, and the clamping-jaws may then be adjusted to engage a plate of the smallest size. It sometimes occurs that a clamping-jaw will become broken after the plate is locked in the form, and by having the groove 17 extending lengthwise of the block I can, by removing the quoins 11 and one of the wooden strips 9, remove the clamping-j aw and the correspondtaking the block out of the form or disturbing the plate. by having the clamping-jaws capable of adjustment the full length of the block remove one plate and substitute another of larger or srlnaller size, adjusting each clamping-jaw to any position within the full length of its block.

It frequently colors thatitsis in succession in occurs in printing in several necessary to use three plates inaking the same print. This construction of the block enables me to use' two, three, or more plates of different sizes in succession` without removmg the blocks from the form and without makmg up`an extra form.A Again, by having the clamping-jaws arranged as shown I am enabled to turn provided with them at an angle to the .with the plate. Vmoved up to the plate and all the' plates se- Moreover,

I mayv longitudinal groove in the block, whereby I am able to clamp a plate having an irregular edge.

It frequently occurs that copper plates become bent after being used, and suchplates vmay be brought down to a horizontal position by the use of my block, in which the bottom surface of the jaw, as hereinbefore eX- I lained, does not come in contact with the liottom wall of the Way 15 at one end. -This is another especial advantage 'arising'from the use of my construction. There is also an especial advantage in having the upper surface of the block provided with the registermarks and having a corresponding scale upon the upper surface of'the clamping-jaw, by which the operator may "determme the amount necessary to turn the adjustingscrew to move the jaw the distance between two of the marks upon the uppersurfaee of the blocker any fraction thereof. lBy loos-r ening the screwson all of the blocks the opin any direcor two lsides may then be erator may then shove the plate tion, moving the jaws on one The other jaws cured by tightening the screws.

If preferred, and es ecially where theways 15 are omitted, the c amping-jaw 19 may be provided with the recesses 29 to receive'the prongs of a tool, by means of which the'jaw maybe moved toward or from theplate 2.

I claim as my invention- A register-clamp comprising, in combination', a block having a longitudinal centrallyarranged groove extending Vfrom end to end of the block, bearing register-marks Ainv its upper surface upon each side clined and horizontal waysprovided in the of said groove, in-

walls of said groove, said inclined ways eX- tending from the bottom of said groove at'one end ofthe block to a-point near the top of the groove at the other end of the block, a clamping-jaw having pro'ections to enter said horizontal ways and sl provided in its upper surface with a scale, a block having projections to enter and slide in said inclined ways and a screw having a head to revolve over said scale and a shank to` pass through said jaw and said block, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of July, 1903.

THEoDoR 'WENs'L IOO ide over said marks and. 

